Hibiscus plant named ‘Ivory Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Ivory Wind’, characterized by its upright, uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate for container production; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large ivory white-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IVORY WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant,botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Ivory Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with a dense,uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production,early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch,desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Alva, Fla. in 2009 of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Tobago Wind’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,940, as the female, or seed, parentwith a proprietary selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis identified ascode number 2487, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newHibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Jul. 18, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. sinceSeptember, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Ivory Wind’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Ivory Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscusplant:

-   -   1. Upright, uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate for        container production.    -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large ivory white-colored flowers with dark red-colored        centers.    -   6. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, ‘Tobago Wind’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily fromplants of ‘Tobago Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in plant habit        than plants of ‘Tobago Wind’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in flowering        habit than plants of ‘Tobago Wind’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Tobago Wind’ differ in flower        color as plants of the new Hibiscus have ivory white-colored        flowers with dark red-colored centers whereas plants of ‘Tobago        Wind’ have white-colored flowers with red purple-colored        centers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more spreading than and not as        upright as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Cool Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,887. Inside-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plantsof ‘Cool Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in plant habit        than plants of ‘Cool Wind’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in flowering        habit than plants of ‘Cool Wind’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Cool Wind’.    -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus have slightly smaller flowers than        plants of ‘Cool Wind’.    -   5. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Cool Wind’ differ in flower        color as plants of the new Hibiscus have ivory white-colored        flowers with dark red-colored centers whereas plants of ‘Cool        Wind’ have white-colored flowers with pink-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Ivory Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Ivory Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 20-cm containersin a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and in an outdoornursery in Fort Worth, Tex. under cultural practices which closelyapproximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 35° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 12° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from5,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched three times and wereten months old when the photographs and the description were taken. Inthe description, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Ivory Wind’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Tobago            Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,940.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number 2487, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots, summer.—About four to            five weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots, winter.—About five to            six weeks.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,            compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately            vigorous to vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral            branches potentially develop at every node; pinching            enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy            appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 58 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 57 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 43 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 9 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture and luster, immature.—Smooth; glossy.        -   Texture and luster, mature.—Woody and rough; matte.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 146A to 146B.        -   Color, mature.—Close to N199B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.        -   Length.—About 7.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to cordate with truncate tendencies.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate to truncate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            somewhat glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than            146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped            single flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and            freely flowering habit with about four or five flowers per            terminal; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower            naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of            warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Flower longevity.—Depending on temperature and water status,            flowers last about two to three days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 10.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 7.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Resistance to abscission during shipping:            Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist            flower bud drop during shipping. Length: About 2.6 cm.            Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: More green than            146A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of a single whorl of            five petals that are fused at base; petals imbricate.            Length: About 6.75 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Shape: Roughly            spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire;            slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Glabrous, veins prominent; matte. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 2D;            towards the base, close to 53A to 53B, size of “eye zone” is            relatively small; venation, similar to lamina, close to 2D            and 53A to 53B. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 4D; venation, close to 4D.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals in a single whorl fused into            a tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width:            About 1 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            waxy; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color,            lower surface: More green than 146A.        -   Epicalyx.—Appearance: About seven in a single whorl fused at            base. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: More green than 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Aspect: Upright to slightly outward. Strength: Strong,            flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 50 per flower. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament            color: Close to 10D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:            About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 14A. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: One per flower. Pistil length: About 7 cm. Style            length: About 6 cm. Style texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy.            Style color: Close to 10D; proximally, close to 46A. Stigma            appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color: Close to            11A. Ovary color: Close to 11D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Hibiscus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 37° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hibiscus    grown under Florida production conditions have not been shown to be    resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Ivory Wind’as illustrated and described.